The 1960 Oscar winner's return before the cameras, for her first starring role in a decade, will be directed by her son, Eduardo Ponti. The vehicle is La voce umana (The Human Voice), based on a 1930 one-person play by Jean Cocteau, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The three-week shoot is to take place in set in Rome, Naples and the port city Ostia.

The awards are being hosted by Ricky Gervais, and will feature Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio presenting the Cecil B. DeMille Award to Martin Scorsese for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field."

A star-studded crowd that included Doris Roberts, Tony Bennett and Michael Badalucco of ABC's "The Practice," cheered along as Sophia Loren and Robert De Niro were inducted into the Italian American Hall of Fame at the annual National Italian American Foundation gala in Washington, D.C., Saturday night, PEOPLE reports.